Mobile communication device with low power receiver for signal detection

• US 20070082716A1
• Filed: 12/07/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Behzad, Arya, Rofougaran, Ahmadreza
• Granted Patent: US 7,590,432 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile communication device with a low power receiver for signal detection and a method for utilizing a low power receiver for signal detection in a mobile communication device. Various aspects of the present invention comprise a first receiver module adapted to operate in a sleep mode. The first receiver module may also be adapted to receive a communication signal utilizing a first amount of power, where the communication signal is characterized by a first set of signal characteristics. A second receiver module may be adapted to receive a communication signal characterized by the first set of signal characteristics. The second receiver module may be adapted to receive a communication signal utilizing a second amount of power that is less than the first amount of power. A communication signal received by the second receiver module may be analyzed to determine a mode in which to operate the first receiver module.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a first receiver module adapted to consume a first amount of power while processing a communication signal corresponding to a first communication protocol; and

a second receiver module adapted to consume a second amount of power while processing a communication signal corresponding to the first communication protocol, where the second amount of power is less than the first amount of power.

2. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein:

the first receiver module is adapted to operate in a plurality of modes comprising;

a first mode characterized by sleep mode characteristics; and

a second mode, in which the first receiver module consumes the first amount of power while processing a communication signal corresponding to the first communication protocol; and

further comprising at least one module adapted to analyze a communication signal processed by the second receiver module to determine whether to operate the first receiver module in the second mode.

3. The mobile communication device of claim 2, wherein the at least one module is adapted to analyze information obtained from the communication signal processed by the second receiver module to determine whether to operate the first receiver module in the second mode.

4. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the first receiver module and the second receiver module share at least a portion of their respective components.

5. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein:

the first receiver module is adapted to process a received communication signal at a first level of performance; and

the second receiver module is adapted to process a received communication signal at a second level of performance less than the first level of performance.

6. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein:

the first receiver module is adapted to utilize a frequency synthesizer that generates a signal characterized by a first quality level; and

the second receiver module is adapted to utilize a frequency synthesizer that generates a signal characterized by a second quality level that is less than the first quality level.

7. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein:

the first receiver module is adapted to utilize an analog-to-digital converter characterized by a first quality level; and

the second receiver module is adapted to utilize an analog-to-digital converter characterized by a second quality level that is less than the first quality level.

8. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein:

the first receiver module is adapted to utilize a filter characterized by a first quality level; and

the second receiver module is adapted to utilize a filter characterized by a second quality level that is less than the first quality level.

9. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein:

the first receiver module is adapted to perform a first amount of signal processing to process a first communication signal; and

the second receiver module is adapted to perform a second amount of signal processing, less than the first amount of signal processing, to process a second communication signal similar to the first communication signal.

10. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein:

the first receiver module is adapted to process a first communication signal at a first processing speed; and

the second receiver module is adapted to process a second communication signal, similar to the first communication signal, at a second processing speed that is less than the first processing speed.

11. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein:

the first receiver module is adapted to utilize a decoder characterized by a first level of performance; and

the second receiver module is adapted to utilize a decoder characterized by a second level of performance that is less than the first level of performance.

12. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein:

the first receiver module is adapted to provide a first voltage level to a first set of components of the first receiver module; and

the second receiver module is adapted to provide a second voltage level to a second set of components, corresponding to the first set of components, where the second voltage level is different from the first voltage level.

13. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein:

the first receiver module is generally adapted to perform general communications; and

the second receiver module is specifically adapted to perform packet detection.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the second receiver module is adapted to operate in a plurality of modes comprising:

a first mode characterized by sleep mode characteristics; and

a second mode, in which the second module processes a communication signal.

15. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a first receiver module adapted to operate in a plurality of modes comprising;

a sleep mode characterized by sleep mode characteristics; and

a normal mode, in which the first receiver module performs general communication activities by, at least in part, processing a communication signal corresponding to a first communication protocol; and

a second receiver module specifically adapted to perform packet detection while the first receiver module is in the sleep mode by, at least in part, processing a communication signal that corresponds to the first communication protocol.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 15, further comprising at least one module adapted to analyze a communication signal processed by the second receiver module to determine whether to operate the first receiver module in the normal mode.

17. The mobile communication device of claim 15, wherein the first receiver module and the second receiver module share at least a portion of their respective components.

18. The mobile communication device of claim 15, wherein the second receiver module is adapted to consume less power than the first receiver module when processing a similar communication signal.

19. The mobile communication device of claim 15, wherein the second receiver module is adapted to perform at a lower performance level than the first receiver module.

20. The mobile communication device of claim 15, wherein the second receiver is adapted to operate in a sleep mode.

21. In a mobile communication device, a method for operating the mobile communication device in an energy-efficient manner, the method comprising:

operating a first receiver module in a sleep mode, wherein the first receiver module is adapted to, in a normal mode, consume a first amount of power while processing a communication signal corresponding to a first communication protocol; and

while operating the first receiver module in the sleep mode;

receiving a communication signal with a second receiver module, wherein the second receiver module is adapted to consume a second amount of power, less than the first amount of power, while processing a communication signal corresponding to the first communication protocol; and

analyzing the received communication signal to determine whether to operate the first receiver module in the normal mode.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first receiver module and the second receiver module share at least a portion of their respective components.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein processing a communication signal with the second receiver comprises performing lower quality processing relative to processing a communication signal with the first receiver.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the first receiver module is generally adapted to perform general communications, and the second receiver module is generally adapted to perform packet detection.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein receiving a communication signal with a second receiver module comprises waking the second receiver module from a sleep state to receive the communication signal.